On tiptoe “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God…” Romans 8:19 Have you ever stood on tiptoe? Straining to see…hoping to catch a glimpse? Maybe you were at an event or a parade and something or someone was in your way. And there you were, on the tip of your toes with the hope that you would see what you were looking for. Paul uses language like this as he speaks of all creation. It's all standing on tiptoe hoping to catch a glimpse of us when we come into the glory that awaits us through the redemption of Jesus Christ. Can you imagine?!? Creation longing for our redemption? The same creation in which WE marvel. The same creation which dresses up season by season reminding us of her power and beauty. The same creation that begs us to take better care. That same creation can hardly wait for us to be redeemed. We catch sight of that redemption as we see lives transformed by the good news of Jesus. And yet even then we have a sense that there is more to come. “…but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:23 This is part of that tension of living in the kingdom now while we wait for its coming in all its fullness…the now and the not yet. The transformation and redemption that we are experiencing in this present moment cannot compare with the glory that is waiting for us. And believe it or not, creation feels it too! So, creation stands on tiptoe… The next time you're out for a walk or a hike in this amazing place we call home, and you find yourself straining to take in the beauty that surrounds you, just imagine the trees stretching up to get a glimpse of you. Picture the rocks piling up on top of each other hoping to spot you as you walk by. And if you listen very carefully you might hear the birds up in the trees call to each other, “There goes another child of God!” They can hardly wait…they’re standing on tiptoe.
Blessings,
Matthew+ Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP p. 231) |